Vacuum brake



y Patented Jan. 8, 1929.

UNI-TED* STATES fcHAELEs A; CAMPBELL, 'or WATEETO'WN, NEW Yo vAc'UUM BRAKE. w

f `Application filed March 22,

yThis invention relates to fluid pressure brakes and particularly to brakes operating at sub-atmospheric pressure and commonlyA known as vacuum brakes.

" y eratedto establish against the other side of the piston an opposing p essure which varies under control ofthe bra {evalve betweenA atmospheric pressure and the sub-atmospheric pressure above ment1oned.

For an example of sucha brake system,

. reference lmay 'be made to my prior Patent No. 1,653,985, granted December 27, 1927, which will be used for illustrative purposes in connection with the present invention.V

Brakes of the vacuum type have been used to some extent on railway trains and are now coming into more or less extensive use on motor Vehicles because it is conveniently pos-l sible to secure the necessary sub-atmospheric pressure by the use of a'direct connection to theintake manifold of an internal combustion engine. A l

Brakes of'this type have been used for trains of vehicles consisting ofa motor truck and one or more trailers, and where this practice is followed there is apt to be some lag in the applicationsof the brakes at theyrear of the train of vehicles. On a single vehicle if the connecting pipes are small, and it is sometimes desirable to make them small to economize in the volume of air handled, there will be an undesirable lag inthe application and release of thev brakes. f'

.The present invention relates to an acceleratingvalve to correct this detect. An accelerating valve is applied to each .cylinder and is actuated by flow in the'reverse directions between the brake Valve and the `brake cylinder. Generally stated, this flow is slightlythrottled sov as to produce a pressure diiferential on opposite sides ot the f' pressure on opposite-sides of the constriction.

192s. v-seriai No. zgas'a One of these diaphragms is connected'to operate a, valve ,whichl admits atmospheric air when` airis flowing from the brake valve to the brake cylinder. The other diaphragm operates a reversely arranged valve whichV upon flow from the brake'cylinder to the brake valve, opens .to establish a connection from the brake cylinder to the meansfor nxfAssIGNoR To THE NEW Yom: v

establishing sub-atmospheric pressure, such connection being additional to and entirely independent of the connection which passes through the brake valye. l The invention will nw be explained as applied to the brake mechanism described and claimed -in my prior patent above identified. In the accompanying drawings?? Fig. l isa diagrammatic' sectionof the brake system o'f my prior patent, `showing the accelerating mechanism applied.

Fig. 2 lis an enlarged sectional view of the accelerating mechanism.

, 11 represents the intake manifoldand 12 the carbureter of an internal combustion engine of that type which draws in its fuel charges by suction, for example, an ordinary four-cycle gasoline engine. It is well known that the a solute pressure inthe intake of such an engine falls as muchas 24 inches vof mercury below atmospheric pressure.

13, 13, are sub-atmospheric pressure reservoirs, the first on the motor vehicle pro er and the second on a trailing vehicle, which is 'here assumed'to be connected to the motor vehicle. The two reservoirs 13, 13 are connected togc'therby a so-called vacuum pipe 14 which is coupled between the motor vehicle and the trailer yin a familiar manner by {iexible-hose 15 and separable couplings 1G. The couplings 16 may be of any suitable type, 'for example, those described in my prior patent. 17 is a stop cock for shutting off the air brake system on occasion.

The reservoir 13 on the motor vehicle is connected by a pipe 18 with the intake manifold 11, anda check valve 19 is interposed in the pipe 18 to permit flow from the reseroir to the manifold and to preclude back The motor vehicle and the trailer are` each provided with brake cylinders 21, 21, which have pistons 22, urged in abrake-releasing direction by springs 23. Connected 'to each piston is'\a piston rod 24 which passes through a stuliing box 25 in the cylinder head. It will be observed that the pistons are doubleacting. They are sealed by rolling packing i rings 26. The khead end of each brake cylinder 21 is permanently connected by a. branch 27 with the vacuum line 14. It follows, therefore, that when the motor is operating the two reservoirs 13, `and the head ends of the two cylinders 21 y are maintained at subatmos-Y pheric pressure at all times. If the trailer is disconnected the automatic means on coupling 16, described in my vprior patent, seals the vacuum pipe 14 0n the motor vehicle.

On the motor vehicle and trailer there is also a brake pipe 28 which is connected between the motor and the trailer by a flexible hose 29 and detachable couplings 31, which ma be of any suitable type, and which prefera ly are of the type described in my prior atent. The brake pipe 28 on the motor veliicle and on the traileris connected to both ends Vofthe cylinders 21 through an accelerating mechanism. A branch 32 leads rto a housing made up oa top portion 33 and a bottom portion 34 which are clamped together to confine a flexible diaphragm 35.

41 .is a restricted by-pass 4port 42' which con-` nectsthe spaces 36 and 37. lThe rod 41 carries at its lower end a valve member 43 which coacts withseat 44 to control the entrance of atmospheric air to the space 37. A spring 45 surroundin the rod urges this upward,`

i irection to close thevalve 43 against the seat 44. Thus air flowing by way that is, in a connection 32, chamber 36, port 42, chainber 37 and connection 38, to the left hand end of the brake cylinder 21, is throttled at 42, and a diferentlal pressure acts upon the diaphragm 35 to move this downward in said valver43 and thus permit atmospheric air additional to that flowing through the connection 32, to flow by way of connection 38-to the left end of the brake cylinder 21. f i

Flow in the reverse direction merely causes the diaphragm 35 to seat the valve 43 more he diaphragm-and valve mechanism just described 1s that which accelerates application of the brake. Associated with it is a. mechanism for accelerating release. Leading from the space 37 by way of connection- 38 is a branchconnection 46 which enters the lower chamber 47 within the housing made up of separable parts 48 and 49. These clamp between them a flexible diaphragm 51 which divides the space within the housing into two chambers, the lower one, 47, just mentioned, y

and the upper one, 52. The upper chamber 52 is connected to the branch 32 and thelower chamber contains a. valve seat 53 with which Lacasse lcoacts a valve 54 carried on a center plate structure 55 clamped Ato theI center of dia-` phragm 51. A spring 56 urges plate 55 down and consequentlytends to seat the valve 54. The valve 54 and the seat 53 control flow through a. connection 57 which leads to the 'connection 27 and hence to the right hand end of the brakccylinder 21.

When during release air is flowing from the left hand end of c linder 2l, itv must pass through the restricte port 42 and the pressure in connection 38 and its related branch 46 is therefore somewhat higher than the pressure in branch 32. As. explained this causes diaphragm 35 to seat the valve 43 more tightly. At the same time its effect on the diaphragm 51 is such as to unseat the valve 54. The effect is to connect the two ends of the cylinder 21 by way of "connection 57,cham-v ber '47, branch 46. .connection 38. In other words'the pressures in thev two ends of the cylinder are rapidl equalized, er,I to view t e matter from as ightly different point of view, the effect is to ,establish'a direct connection from theleft hand end of cylinder 21 to the vacuum pipe `14. The same accelerating mechanism 1s applied tothebrake cylinder yofthe trailer in identically the same way and the mechanism on the trailer is given the same reference numerals.l

Any brake mechanism might be used to establish in the brake pipe 28 a pressure which.

lvaries under the control of the brake valve between atmospheric pressure and the subatmospheric' pressure characteristic of the reservoirs 13, but I shall vdescribe the brake valve of my prior patent -for illustrative purposes.

The housing ofthe brake valve is made up of two major portions 61 and 62 and a cap portion 63. These enclose a valve chamber l64 in which is a valve seat 65 and in communication with the chamber' 64 is a; cylinder having a'cylinder bushing 66. In the valve seat 65l are two ports, the first of which, 67, communicates with the vacuum pipe 14, and the second of which, 68, communicates with4 the brake pi e 28.

Slidab e on the valve seat 65 is a member 69 which is in effect a shiftable valve seat. It has on its upper face a valve seat portion 71 into which open two small ports 72 and 73 whichserve as continuations ofthe ports 67 and 68 with which, respectively, the ports 72 and 73 are in communication in' all positions of the shiftable valve seat 69. u This result is ports 72 andV 73, as shown. The shiftable valve seat member has an upward extension 74 which carries a rcllei` v7 5 engaged by the slotted end of the pivoted` lever 7 6.-

The lever 76 is connected by a reach rod 77 with a foot lever 78, which-is the operating loo lla

secured by enlarging the lower portions of the Lacasse 7 9.- Sliding on the top of the shiftable valve seat 69 isa valve 81 havinga' recess 82" its lower face. Thisvalve is lconfined in al notch in a piston`rod88'which is connected to apiston 84 sliding in the cylinder bushing 66. l 'A spring 85 urges the pis-ton,y 84 to the left. The space within the valve chamber -64 is constantly open to. atll'iosphere through a strainer 8G, from whichit follows that the left hand side of the piston 84 is subject to atmospheric pressure, it beingrecalled that there is aldirect communication from the chamber 64 to the left hand end of the cylinder space within.

' cylinder 21 are at sub-atmospheric pressure,

i. e., at the pressure in reservoir 18. Thus the space to the right of thel piston 84 is at this same sub-atmospheric pressure. It the brake lever 78 be swung to the right, the valve seat member '69 is moved to the left, and when the port 7 3 moves beyond the end of valve 81, at-

-mospheric air entering through strainer 86 will flow vthrough the ports 7 3 and 68 to the brake pipe. Thisair will flowto the left hand end ofthe brake cylinder 21, applying the brake.l At the same time the valve 43 will be unseated allowing'an additional flow of atvmospheric air to the left hand side' of the cylinder 21. This will result in a gradual increasev of pressure in the pipe 28which, acting on the right hand side of piston 84, and asl so' sisted by the action of the spring 85,. will move the valve 81 far enough to the left to blank the port 73,. at which time motion will cease.

Movement of the lever 78 to the left will causethe valveseat 69 to move to the right. As soon as port 82 bridges the ports 72 and 73 the brake pipe will be again connected with reservoir 13. This starts back flow through the brake pipe 28 which unseats the valve 54. It follows, therefore, that the pressure in the left hand end of cylinder 21 is reduced first by flow through the brake valve and second by equalizing flow tothe other end of the cylinder through the valve 54. As above suggested this equalizing flow .is in effeet a flow through a secondary path, independent of the brake valve, to the reservoir 13.

.It will be apparent from a brief study ot the action of the brake valve that for each position of the brake lever 78 therel is a corresponding pressure in theleft hand endof the cylinder 21, so that the pressure lwith which the brakes are applied may be graduated merely by changing the position of the lever 7 8. The action of the valves 43 and 54 does not disturb thisgraduating action because obviously neither' of `these valves' opens except when there isA a` fiow towardor from the brake cylinder in excess' ofthe capacity ofthe port .42. Consequently as the pressure in the ,lefthandend 'of' the. cylinder 21 approaches'the value'corresponding'to the position of brake lever 78, the valve 43 or 54, whichever 1n ayat that time be open, Will-close. This leaves the final determination o brake pressure' under the` exclusive control of the brake valve.'v

While l Ishow the invention as applied to a double-acting'brake cylinder in whichboth ends of the cylinders are at sub-atmospheric pressure, othertypes of vacuum brake are known and the invention is not limited to the particular type illustrated. It may be used eli'ectivel ywith any'type of vacuum brake in which a rake valve operates to establish in t-he brake cylindera varying sub-atmospheric pressure. lConsequently various departures from the specific embodiment illustrated are possible and are contemplated. f

For example, while I show Vtwol distinct diaphragms and two distinct housings, one

accelerating. application and the other acce1- f erating release, this is merely amatter of convenience. The mechanism might otherwise 1 be 'arrangedjand still embody the characteristid` flow throttling orifice and a vdiapln'agni mechanism responsive to differential pressures on the two sides of the orifice, and effective when the differential acts in one direction, to admit atmospheric air, and when it acts in the other directiomto establish an independent suction connection'.v What is claimed is,--'V 1. In a brake system, the combination -o'f a brake cylinder; means for creating-subatmospheric pressure; a brake valve` inter,-

posed between said means and 'said'brake cylinder and operable to establish 'in said cylinder by flow to and from'the same a pres# sure vwhich varies between atmospheric pressure and the sub-atmospheric pressure created by said means; means for throttling flow between said brake valve and said cylinder in both directions; and valve means responsive to the differentials of the 'pressures on opposite sides of such throttling means and serving on flow toward the cylinder to admit atmospheric air to the cylinder independently of the brake valve and on ow from the cylinder to connect the brake cylinder with saidv sub-atmospheric pressure prdducing means independently ofthe brake valve.

2. In a brake system, thecombination of a brake cylinder; means for creating sub-atmospheric pressure; a brake valve interposed between said means land said brake cylinder and operable to establish in said cylinderby low to ``and from the cylinder a pressure which varies between atmospheric Ipressure and the sub-atmospheric pressure created by said means; means 'for .throttling flow between said brake valve and said'cylinder in both directions; motorl means responsive to diterentials of the pressures on opposite sides.

of said throttlini) means; anddual valve `mea-ns controlled y said motor means' and arranged to b e closed thereby when said dif? erential is zero, and opened selectively when one pressure predominates to admit atmospheric air to the brake cylinder independentl o f flow through the brake valve, and-when t e other Vpressure predominates toconnect the brake cylinder to said sub-atmospheric pressure creating means independently of the brake valve. l

3. In a brake system, tht` combination of a brake cylinder; means for creating sub-atmospheric pressure; a brake valve interposed betweensaid means and saidbrake cylinder and operable to establish in said cylinder by flow to and from the 4cylinder a pressure WhichA varis between atmospheric pressure and the s`iib-atmospheric` pressure created by said means; mea-ns or throttling flow bctween said brake valve and said cylinder in both directions; motor means responsive to differentials of the pressures on opposite sides 'of said throttling means; dual valve means controlled by said motel-'means and arrangedto be closed thereby when said ,differential is zero', andopened selectively when one ressnre predominates to` admit atmosheric air tothe brake cylinder independentof flow through the brake valve, and when the other pressure predominatcs to yconnect the brake cylinder to said sub-atmos`pheric ressure creating means indepcn dently `ofthe rake valve; and yielding means resist-ing l motion of said dual valve means from closed position. 4 y

Y 4. In a brake system, the combination of a brake cylinder; means 'for creatinr sub-atlmosplieric pressure; a brake valve interposed between said means and said brake cylinder and-operable to establish in said cylinder by lflowto and vfrom the cylinder a pressure which varies between atmospheric pressure and' the sub-atmospheric pressure created by saidmeans; means for throttling flow betweenr said brake valve and said cylinder in both directions; two diaphragms each subject on its opposite sides to the pressures on opposite sides of said tnrottling means; and valves, each controlled b v a vcorresponding diaphragm, 'one opened byits diaphragm during flow from the brake valve to the cylinderI to admit atmospheric air to the cylinder ini dependent-ly of ilow through the brake valve,

and the other opened by its diaphragm upon 4flow from the brake cylinder to the brake valve, to connect the brake cylinder to the sub-atmospheric pressure producing means independently of the brake valve. 5. In a brake system, the combination of a `brake cylinder; means for creatingvsub-at.- mosplieric pressure; a brake valve interposed Lacasse .between said means and cylinder and having an atmospheric port, said valve being of the type which automatically moves to lap position in response .to brake cylinder pressure; means for `tlirottling flow between said brake `valve and said cylinder in both directions; .'motor means responsive to ditferentials of "the pressures on opposite sides of said tlirot-tling means; and dual valve means controlled b said motor means and arranged to be closet thereb y when said differential is zero, and opene selectively when one pres-v sure predominates to admit atmes )heric air to the brake cylinder, independently of iow through thebrake valve, .and when the other pressure predominates to connect the brake cylinder 'to said sub-'atmospheric pressure crelating means independently of the brake va ve. y '6. In a brake system, the combination of a brake cylinder; means for creating sub-atmospheric pressure; a brake valve interposed e between said means and cylinder and having an atmospheric port, said valve being of the type which automatically moves to lap position in resppnse to brake cylinder pressure; means for throttlin flow between said brake valve and said cylinder in both directions; motor means responsive to differentials of the pressures on opposite sides of said throttling'means; dual valve means controlled by saidniotor means and arranged to be closed therebywhen said'dierential is zero, and opened selectively when' one 4pressure predominatcs to admit atmospheric air; to the 100 brake cylinder independently of flow through the brake valve, and whentlie otherpressnre predominates to connect the brake cylinder to said sub-atmospheric pressure creating means indepcndentlyof the brake valve; and my, yielding means resisting motion of said dual valve meansfrom closed position. y 7. In a brake system, the combina-tion of a double-acting brake cylinder; means for establishing a'sub-atmospheric pressure; a conn0 nection from said means toone end of said brake cylinder; a brake valve interposed between said means and the other; end of the brake cylinder and operable to establish in said other end an opposing pressure which' 115 varies between atmospheric pressure and equalization with said sub-atmosphericpressure; means for throttling the flow between saidbrake valve and cylinder in both directions; and valve means responsive' to pressure mi) differentials created by such throttling on oposite sides of the throttling means'and serving on throttled iow toward the cylinder to admit atmospheric air to the brake cylinder independently ofthe brake valve and on 125 throttled flow from the cylinder to connect l the two ends of the cylinder.

- 8. The combination of -a* double-acting brake cylinder having a piston; a spring urg mg said piston 1n brake releasing direction; no

means for establishing sub-atinospheric pressure; a connection between said means and one end of said cylinder; a bralrevalve interposed in a connection from said means to the other end of said cylinder and operable to establish in said other end a pressure which varies.accrding to the adjustment of the brake valve between equalization with the pressure in the irst end of the cylinder, and atmospheric pressure; means-for throttling flow between the brake valve and said other end o'f the cylinder; and valve means responsive to pressure diiierentials created by such throttlii'ig on opposite sides of the throttling means and serving on flow toward the cylin-Iv der to admit atmospheric air addition to that flowing through the brake valve to apply thefbrake and on iiow from the cylinder to conneet the two ends of the cylinders. y

9. In a brake system, the combination of a double-acting brake cylinder; means for establishing a subatmospheric pressure; a connection from said means to one lend of said brake cylinder; a brake valve interposed d between said means and the other end of the brake cylinder and operable to establish in4 said'other end an opposing pressure which -varies between atmospheric pressure' and equalization with said subatmospheric pressure; a constriction in the communication between said brake valveand brake cylin-V der; motor means responsive to differentials of the pressures on opposite sides of said constriction; and dual valve means controlled by said motor means and arranged to be closed thereby when said differential is zero, and `opened selectively when one pressure predoininates to admit atmospheric air to the brake cylinder independently of flow through the brake valve, and when-the otherpressure'predominates to connect the two ends oi' the brake cylinder.

l0; In abrake system, the combination of a` double-acting` brake cylinder; means for establishing a sub-atmospheric pressure; a connection from saidmeans to one end of said brake cylinder; a brake valve interposed between said means andthe other end of the brake cylinder and operable to establish in said other end an opposing pressure which varies between atmospheric pressure andl equalization with said sub-atmospheric pressure; a constriction in the communication between said brake valve and brake cylinder; motor means responsive lto diiierentials 'of the pressures on opposite sides of said constriction; dual valve means controlled by said motor means and arranged to be closedv thereby when said differential is zero, and

'connection from said means to one end of `said brake cylinder; abrake valve interposed between said means and the other end of thebrake cylinder and operable to estab-A lish in said other end an opposing pressure which varies-between 'atmospheric pressure' and equalization with said sub-atmospheric pressure; alconstriction in the communication' between said brake valve and brake cylinder; a pair of d iaphragms eachsubject on opposite sidesto the pressures on opposite sides of said constriction; and a pair of valves, the first opened by one diaphragm upon flow from the-brake valve to the cylinder, and serving to admit atmospheric air to the brake cylinder, and the other opened upon iow from the cylinder to the brake valve and serving to establish an equalizing communication between the two ends of the cylinder.

12. The combination of a double-acting brake cylinder having a piston; aspring urging said piston in brake releasing direc-v tion; means -for establishing sub-atinospheric pressure; a connection between 'said means and one end of said cylinder; a brake valve interposed in aconnection from said means to theother end of said cylinder and oper 'able toestablish in said other end apressure which varies according to the adjustment of the brake valve between equalization with the pressure in the first end ofthe cylinder, and atmospheric pressure; a constriction in the communication between. said brake valve and brake cylinder; a pair of diaphragins each' subject on opposite sides to the pressures on opposite sides of said constriction; and a. pair of valves, the first opened by one diaphragm upon flow from the brake valve to the cylinder and serving to admit atmospheric air to the brake cylinder, and the other v opened upon flow from the cylinder tothe brake valve and serving to establish an equalizing communication between the two ends of the cylinder. .l

4- In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification. d

CHARLES A. CAMPBELL. 

